Tech 21 Power Engine 60

This amp is simplicity itself, a power section and speaker, with 3 eq knobs. Just connect your modelling device/preamp, adjust the eq if necessary, and off you go.

Playing a 2004 Suhr Classic with 3 V60LP single coils, and a custom Jem with EVO's into a POD XT Live, (as a backup i have a Yamaha Magicstomp) into 2 PE 60's.
I love the sounds i get using this setup, both with the POD and also with the MAgicstomp. I haven't recorded direct with the POD yet, so i can't compare the sound of the PE 60's with a direct recorded sound. I will say that i think the PE60's add some "life" to the sound that i find is lacking if i use the POD with headphones.

I bought these brand new, and after about 2 months one of them died. I sent it in, and some resistors had to be replaced. Not a major deal, as i have 2, and if one goes down, i just play in mono, but i'd hate to be the guy with only one of these at a gig, and have it die.

Excellent customer service. Every tech i spoke with was patient and friendly, and didn't mind answering my questions. The girl who answers the phones could use some training in friendliness though.
As far as service, i sent in the one that died on a tuesday, and i had it back on friday!!! Granted, i live in NY, and they're in NJ, but that's still an incredible turnaround time.

Been playing guitar for almost 30 years now, and i definitely embrace new technology as it comes along, hence my use of the POD. I think the PE 60 is the perfect answer for modelling devices and preamps- i wish they existed back in the 80's when we were all using Digitech and Rocktron preamps!
I think tubes are overrated, and with this setup, i have the means to back up my case.
Hopefully the one that died was just a fluke- as long as these things prove to be reliable, i can see myself using them for a long time.
peace

VERY EASY. What place in front of it is what you get out of it. I put a Line 6 POD XT LIVE. It really makes it sing at lower levels. Has Low,Mid,and High. Volume level also

Again, no one to blame but yourself if it sounds bad. The only thing is to match EQ. Start off flat, and tweak.Very easy to use. just educate yourself on proper effect chains. That is a definite plus!!

So far, so good!

havent had to use them yet!

Again, not much to it. But it has good volume levels, easy to use, and its biggest plus is great sound at lower volumes.I am used to mic'ing amps, so that is a plus.

Brand new Power Engine 60, featuring the new Celestion Seventy 80 Speaker, which replaces the original Tech 21 Special Design 2112A speaker. Although the old one was rated at 100 watts, there was a fair amount of people accusing lack of headroom and farting-out problems at higher levels. The new Celestion 70/80 (80 watts) seems to have solved this problem, at least I don't have it.
This amp has no channels, as it features no preamp. It only has a transparent SS power section and the speaker. You must supply the preamp. I won't go in deeper technical details, as this has been covered pretty well by the other reviewers.

Ibanez RG-470 L with a Seymour Duncan TB-6 Distortion Trembucker in the bridge position > Shure UT-14 wireless > Keeley TS-9 Mod Plus > Tech 21 Sans Amp TRI-A.C. > Fulltone Fat-Boost > Ernie Ball VPJR 6181, with a BOSS TU-12H slaved out > Power Engine PW60. Prior to the Power Engine, I was using a Marshall 5275 SS 1x12' combo, going directly to the power amp section. I wasn't satisfied with it, because all the amp emulations in my Sans Amp TRI-A.C. (Fender, Marshall, Mesa Boogie) had an inevitable marshallesque flavour.
Enter the Power Engine 60 and everything improved dramatically. My TRI-A.C. just came to life. The PE60 just amplifies what's given to it, without additional coloration, harmonics, etc.
The onboard 3 band active EQ is further useful to compensate for a bad room. I usually keep the lows an highs at 12 o'clock and slightly cut the mids, at 11 o'clock. This gives me a killer cutting tone. However, for the music I play (hard rock) I think I will need one more Power Engine, to have more air moving. You just can't do palm mutes with just one open back 1x12', isn't it?
The Power Engine has enough headroom. I never had to turn the volume past 60%, neither live or at band reherasal, and we're a 6 piece rock band, including double bass drums, 6 string bass and two dirty (very often) guitars.

It's sturdy enough, I rely on it on stage and I can't afford a back-up. Of course, it's not Mesa/Boogie construction, but neither is the price the same. The front panel is plywood and the speaker is fixed with 4 T-nut screws, which is fair enough. It weights 35 lbs, which you'll definitely love.
After all, it's an american product, and you can see this on it. I baby my stuff, anyway, and don't think something will go wrong. Besides, Tech 21 NYC is known for making good, reliable products and their customer service is incredibly good.

I've dealt with the company a couple of years back, when they replaced my defective TRI-A.C. with a brand new one, for free, although it had voided guarantee! Not to mention that I was the one to screw the TRI-A.C. by mistakingly applying 12 V instead of 9V!
They answer fast to e-mails and are very supportive, willing to help, coming up with suggestions even if you ask some other gear related questions. Mr. Lloyd Schwartz is a very cool person, I thank him again this way!

I love it for it's transparence, simplicity and for the way it complements my TRI-A.C. It doesn't stay in it's way it's just the other missing half. It offers you no bells and whistles, just clean power for your preamp. What you feed in is what you get out of it, so garbage i,. garbage out, that's for sure.
If there's something I wish it had, it is a 2x12' configuration. It would have been more suited for the style I play. But I'll end up by getting one more, and have a killer set-up.

Quarter inch or XLR input (only use one at once), balanced line out (XLR) with ground lift. Trebble, Mid and Bass active eq, volume, on/off switch and light. One new cab, one second hand cab. The older cab has a Tech 21 custom speaker -100 watt (so the sticker says), the new cab has a Celestion Seventy 80 - 80 watt - speaker, which is slighty lighter. Fr this type of application, there is every feature you need. They're not trying to be guitar amps, not trying to off reverb, channel switching. They're just offering to amplify the sound they're given. This is a flat response amp, single channel as it is designed to run with pre-amps that handle their own channel/patch stuff. I run them as a stereo pair on stage and use the line out to feed the desk. The amp runs at 60 watts, and it is transistor but...This isn't any old transistor amp with crappy speakers and overrated, you get 60 watts, it is as loud as a 60watt valve amp as the speaker is matched correctly to the amp, allowing it to produce maximum power.

Using a USA Strat in to a Boss GT-8 in to a pair of these. No matter the digital pre-amp, these Power Engines make the difference. Forget about putting your POD, Tonelab, GT-?, Sans Amp in to the front of an amp or it's effects loop, this is how you should really do it. You'll then see how good digital modelling is. I leave the eq flat (all at 12o'clock) and volume between 9 and 12o'clock and that's loud enough for most small/medium stages. I think that if you need to dramatically alter the eq of these things then you've got you eq all wrong in the pre-amp and you should fix that first. I've not got them to fart out and I do use a Marshall Hi Gain sound with plenty of bass. Check out the Tech 21 site www.tech21nyc.com as they have plenty of info and sound samples(!). You get all the warmth, all the highs and lows as clear or as muddy as you want. If you put crap in, you'll get crap out. If you know how to set you pre-amp up, you'll hear fantastic results from this!

Old one is holding up OK and the new one worked straight out of the box...

Emailed them with a question and got a reply within a couple of days...no problems there so far...

Playing for over 25 years, have valves, still got a small valve amp, but wandered in to the digital domain a few years ago and kept dipping in and out, finally found the GT-6 and now the GT-8 and not looked back. These Power Enginges are the missing link in the digital chain for me. Alway try before you buy but if you're on the line over digital, see if you can have a go through one of these...it may just change your mind.

basic simple sweet

just like a recording
no color
perfect if you run any type of preamp

heard great things about Tech 21
no probs yet

very helpful on the phone

perfect amp for a monitor system
been playing for 15 yrs and this is 1 unit I will keep for a long time
I use it for a monitor in a church setting and it truely gives you the same sound that the mains give you.
I love this thing.
Plenty enough power for a monitor.

I use it with my Yamaha DG Stomp for electric and the Yamaha MagicStomp for outthere fx. I also use the MagicStomp for pure acoustic guitar.

The PowerEngine60 is powerful enough for a full on blues band with total clean headroom.

It also amplified my acoustic/electric to performance level with no distotion, just the sweet acoustic mic modeling the way Yamaha intended it to sound like. I dig it.

If it sounds great recorded direct as in the MagicStomp, it will sound the same through the PowerEngine60. Great.

I've used this amp with a variety of gear I own. Yamaha, Line6 xt and delay, lexicon, the Roland GR33 synth, Digitech X series reverb and delay...

I got all that gear because of these amps.

And the thing is, it all sounds great. I don't even own a tube amp anymore.

The only thing that ever happened was...nothing, it's always worked.

No breakdown, no need for repair.

They already did there job.

I rate it the best poweramp/speaker cab out there. Nothing that can preserve the quality of tone from the outboard preamp as well as these cabs.

My highest rating in my gear chain.

Well thought out with post EQ and the weight and no visible chord from the front. I have two.

What else needs to be said. Just at the time I had a need for something like this I saw "finally, an amp with no tone". That ad drew me in three years ago.

It has no tone. It's open to whatever plugs into it.

It's a chameleon or more like an octopus in the way it changes.

I record direct and it really sounds the same as these cabs.

Amazing.

Holding up just fine. But I do take care of both cabs.

never needed them so that means they have satisfied their customer.

I have two but use just one most of the time.

Using two at varying distances like one close and one far can cause a
phasing problem.(one sound wave arrives at your ear a moment later)

The best way to have two amps is to use them like headphones on either side at equal distances from you. This is how Bill Frisell
has his two amp thing and he gets the best sound. One amp faces the audience the other faces him and he stands between the two.

If the phasing problem is too much trouble, just bring one cab, problem solved. No stereo fx though.

Personally if playing blues or straight up Jazz I like the one cab sound.

If playing more ambient and more ethereal types of music I prefer stereo.

But the cabs do their thing.

Real attractive, light, built well with good quality, clean power.

I have the Line6 PODxt LIVE and this is a great pairing of gear.
The POD is capable of the best in modeling but can sound real bad if going in to the front of a combo and people don't know how to adjust the POD for that.

The PE60 is my dream machine capable of reproducing the tone of my POD as well as my G&L ASAT and such.

In the end I hear touch, guitar and amp tone as if I recorded it direct. I'm so impressed with the transparancy the PE60 provides.

I've owned two of these cabs for about four years and haven't found a better sounding product except the Bose Cylindrical Speaker.

But the Bose fails on a few levels.
1. 2,000.00 just a bit steep
2. 7ft tube will not go over with "purists"
3. I like to hear where my amp is, not a 3d surround sound image

As good as the Bose sounds, PE60 also sounds great and it looks the part like a real amp. Most the time I just bring one cab to a gig and that's enough.

I dig them.

If you have preamps (I've got a Vox Tonelab and Tech21 PSA-1), this is a great powered enclosure for a guitarist. One volume control and a basic EQ.

TRANSPARENT!...exactly what you want in this case.

I've only owned it for several weeks however, I've bought many Tech 21 items over the years and their stuff has always been extremely reliable.

Many years dealing with Tech 21 and they are simply the best at responding to their customers. You send them an e-mail and normally it's been answered in 30 minutes. This has kept me coming back to them over the years...you can't beat 'em.

For my needs, this is a perfect piece of equipment. I needed an amp which would enable me to play small live gigs on occasion without breaking my bank (since most of my life is spent in the studio). Once I got my head around the concept of a powered and transparent enclosure, the idea really appealed. I am extremely well versed with my Vox Tonelab and Tech 21 PSA-1 and not having to learn how to tweak a new piece of gear was a godsend. Considering that I bought the PowerEngine on ebay for $239, this was one of the best bangs I've ever gotten for my bucks! I'm most likely going to buy another PowerEngine int he next few weeks just to complete a stereo setup. At 24lbs a unit, I'm happy to cart two of these around.

It is slightly misleading to rate features on this amp as it is merely an extension cabinet with a power amp and speaker and no pre-amp. Having said that, I give it a high rating by comparing it to other amps that try to accomplish the same thing (like an Atomic Reactor). This is a 60 watt amp with bass, mid and treble EQ as well as both XLR and 1/4" in, and XLR out. These features give it a lot more versatility than comparable amps. I can do some EQ correction as well as use the amp as a monitor while going into the house PA.

I use this amp with both electric and acoustic guitars. I run my electric through a VOX ToneLab SE and into the Power Engine. Many ToneLab owners complain of too little low end in the ToneLab and no post-EQ on the unit. This problem is solved with the Power Engine (and I do boost the bass a bit). I run my Taylor through a series of effects (Aphex pre-amp- 207, compressor, graphic EQ, chorus/reverb and Aphex sound conditioner -204) before the Power Engine. However, on really small venues, I run the Taylor direct into the Power Engine and it sounds great! In fact, I've had people come up afterwards and think their ears were playing tricks on them because they couldn't tell if the amp was on and was confused where the sound was coming from. (I guess, if there is enough space between the guitar and the amp, and the volume on the amp is set at the same level as the guitar, I'm creating a stereo effect). I might add that Tech 21 does not sell this amp as an acoustic amp. It is sold as an extension cabinet to add wattage as well and as a means of amplifying their preamps. I didn't even know when I bought it that it did such a great job amplifying my Taylor.

I haven't had it long enough to form an opinion, but it looks great (kind of neo-vintage), seems to be built well, and is solid state.

Too new to form an opinion.

Did I mention it weighs about 24 lbs? I did a lot of research trying to find an amp to go with the ToneLab SE and this is what I ended up with. However, I was so impressed with it as an acoustic amplifier that I donated my Calif. Blonde to my church. If the Power Engine was stolen, I'd drop another $250 in a heartbeat.

The weight. Man do I not miss that 75lb. thing I had before.
For me, the greatest feature is the transparency of the sound. It delivers on it's promise of "no tone" It lets your preamp do the tone thing.
Vast routing possibilities. I have two PE60's one for my Podxt, one for my MagicStomp and or my GR20 synth. In an other configuration I use my PedalRacks true bypass looping strip to combine all of my fx units in any combination I want (very very cool, John Scofield uses the PedalRack true bypass strip) The Fx I don't want to use are switched out of the chain. It all ends up with the PE60's that retain the cleanest non effected tone I've ever heard out of a power amp/cab.

I want to preserve the sounds of the preamps as much as I can.
My Podxt is hands down the best modeling device out there in my opinion. I also use the MagicStomp and a Lexicon MPX100(Bill Frisell),
Line6 delay pedal and three Digitech X series pedals. I switch between all this with a PedalRacks True Bypass Strip keeping it clean from tone sucking.
I use all this in my Korg D1200 Mark2 digital home studio direct and it sounds great. Live playing, I'll grab the Podxt and the MagicStomp
and both cabs, one for each effect device.
The cabs make it sound as good as the recording. Maybe more so because of air being moved.
And it's so portable.

I've owned them for 2-3 years, and only this weekend at a party the input was cutting out on one of them due to a much needed cleaning with Progold G5 spray.
My lack of proper maintenence.

I'd buy them again if I had to

As I am defining features, this unit is feature rich, although there are only 4 small knobs on the back of the unit to control EQ and output volume. There are many ways to use this unit though, and it's connection abilities are superb. You can chain many of these together to create a wall of sound, or you can use this as a stage monitor and take it's XLR output direct to the house's board. Or you can use a Tech21 Trademark Series (10, 60, 120, etc...) and use it on one side of the stage while putting this unit on the other side of the stage creating a very fine surround of sound. And taken in pairs, you can take any stereo preamp out there (SansAmp, POD, VAMP, J-Station, Korg, whatever's next) and have a great stereo rig that has a single preamp driving this unit's power amplification section. It has both a 1/4" and XLR inputs, and an XLR output that includes a ground lift switch to combat any potential ground loops. The EQ is incredibly useful and a small turn of a knob will yield BIG results. Someone below mentioned this unit needing reverb and I wonder if they misunderstand it's intended purpose(s). There is no preamp -- you must supply your own -- and therefore there is no reverb circuit.

The "sounds" this thing produces are very even accross the spectrum. It was designed to make whatever is plugged into it louder, and that's all. That said, the full range speaker reproduces whatever signal is passed in quite faithfully, and does not add any of it's own coloration. My chain for this setup is Tech21 SansAmp Tri-AC -> Digitech Digiverb -> Power Engine 60. With this setup, I can grab a couple of pedals, throw them in the back of the power engine, grab my guitar and go. SImple as pie, lightweight and it sounds every bit as good as my Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue or any Marshal Stack I have ever heard. I don't give this rating lightly and I have always preferred the sound of tubes in my guitar sound factory. But Tech21 has caused has me reconsider that restriction. The bass is tight, and well defined while the highs are clear and present without being "over the top". And there is NO warm up time to wait! An added plus is that you can use whatever pedals you might already hae into this "rig" and play whatever style you need.

It is a solid state unit, and unless I give it to ann airline baggage handler to move, it ought to last a lifetime.

Called Tech21 after I first got this unit to ask a question and I ended up shooting the breeze with the tech for about 25 minutes! These guys not only know their stuff, they knowhow to treat a customer. Very refreshing in this day and age.

I have been playing guitars for a LONG time, and I don't give out glowing reviews lightly. I was originally very skeptical about Tech21's approach. I have come to fundamentally dislike the digital sound, although I do understand why it is used so extensively and also I understand why other folks might just love it. But I dig Fenderish clean tone with a tight bottom end that sings with it's own voice while not overwhelming the rest of the mix with boominess. My 65 DRRI is such an amp and now I have to say that this combination as listed above also has that mojo. I just can't say enough good things about Tech21 these days!

Brand new Power Engine. On board EQ, quarter in. imput, XLR in/out with 60 watts power. Needs reverb to get a 10 from me. Of course I knew it didn't come with it. Personal preference but a feature that is utilized enough to be included. If you don't think so thats fine.

I'm using this with guitars that sport humbuckers mainly. SG Gibson, Schecter C-1 Classic and my lovely Tanara with single coils too. Now this thing on its own is neutral. The onboard EQ is capable of coloring it as needed...very good range. I just about kicked it when I turned it on and found it only got so loud on its own. I thought this a frigg'n joke. My AVT 20 killed it in volume. I thought its going back to Zzounds right frigg'n now. I tried it the next day with my Tech 21 GT2 peddle and this made all the difference for making it useable for me. With the GT2 I got plenty of volume for jamming and it was outdoing the Marshall 20 watts now. Whew! I really like the GT2 and it sounds great through the power engine. Distortions hold themselves and sound thick and full as needed. Clean is fine. Nuth'n special. For me the speaker was holding its own and it was plenty loud now. I had it EQ'd well though. I can see where ya have to watch how much base you have at high levels...thats true with any speaker though. I hate speakers farting out so we will see if I run into this too. I'm not using this for gigging though. I have other Equip. for that. Mic'd would be just fine as my set up with the GT2 creates enough volume. I wish this had reverb especially when I'm using the tweed sound on the GT2. Going to have to get a peddle for that now. I just like a wet sound sometimes. You understand.

Been playing over 20 yrs. I could see daisey chaining these things together and having a great time getting tones from whatever you put through it. I think 4 of these would be a killer stack lol. For me I wouldn't buy it again unless what I was running through it already had reverb. I like reverb that much. To me it is a necessary flavor. I think it was a good deal price wise. I already had the GT2 so I didn't need to get a separate preamp too. The GT2 makes this useable for me. Otherwise it would be going back for lack of volume.

YEAH, I KNOW I GAVE IT A "10" EVEN THOUGH IT'S DESIGNED TO DO PRETTY
MUCH ONE THING- SUPPLY TRANSPARENT POWER FOR YOUR PREAMP OR WHATEVER.
GAVE IT A 10 FOR FEATURES CUZ IT SAVED ME LOTS OF $$$$ IN THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY EXTRA $$$ FOR A BUILT IN PREAMP SECTION THAT I DON'T NEED. THANKS TECH 21, AS I KNOW YOU GUYS READ THESE FROM TIME TO TIME.

GOT A VG-88? GET ONE OF THESE. MY VG-88 HAS NEVER SOUNDED THIS GOOD.
WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO BAND PRACTICE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WAS EXPECTING
TO HAVE TO USE THE XLR OUT TO GO INTO THE BOARD DUE TO NOT ENOUGH VOLUME. NOT THE CASE. I WAS ASKED TO TURN DOWN. I READ SOME OTHER REVIEW STATING THAT IT WAS A "BEDROOM AMP" DUE TO LACK OF VOLUME.
WELL, HE'S EITHER DEAF OR HAS A SICK POWER ENGINE. FOR THE RECORD, MY
PREVIOUS AMP WAS A MESA RECTO HALF-STACK, SO YOU KNOW I DON'T PLAY
SOFTLY. LET'S FACE IT, AS GUITARISTS WE TEND TO FALL IN AND OUT OF
LOVE W/DIFFERENT PIECES OF GEAR AND SOMETIMES EVEN SECOND GUESS OUR
NEW GEAR "DIRECTION". I WAS MOST DEFINATELY SECOND GUESSING MYSELF
GOING FROM BEING "JOE TUBE AMP" TO A VG-88/POWER ENGINE COMBO DUDE.
BY THE WAY, I'VE OWNED THE VG 88 FOR 3 YRS NOW. JUST USED IT IN THE
STUDIO AS I NEVER LIKED ITS SOUND THROUGH AN AMP. I CAME CLOSE W/THE
MESA AND A MARSHALL TSL122, BUT NOTHING LIKE THE POWER ENGINE.
I KNEW I WAS ON TO SOMETHING WHEN MY DRUMMER AND SINGER BOTH COMMENTED
ON HOW MUCH BETTER MY SOUND WAS. BETTER THAN MY MESA?! WELL, 3 PRACTICES LATER MY DRUMMER SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID HE STILL COULDN'T
BELIEVE THE SOUND COMMING FROM THAT LITTLE AMP. INDEED.

I'M NOT OVERLY CONCERNED. I OWN 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT TECH 21/SANSAMP
MODELS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. STILL, WILL NEVER GIG W/OUT
A BACKUP AND WHAT'S COOL IS I OWN A TECH 21 TRADEMARK 60 SO ALL I'D
HAVE TO DO IS PLUG THE VG 88 INTO THE TM60'S EFFECTS LOOP RETURN JACK
AND, WHOALA- I'VE GOT A "QUASI" POWER ENGINE. LIFE'S GOOD.

HAVE SPOKEN W/THEM AND EMAILED THEM. ALWAYS FRIENDLY/COURTEOUS AND
NEVER GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS "BOTHERING" THEM, UNLIKE SOME
OTHERS I'VE DEALT WITH OVER THE YEARS.

I READ ALOT OF REVIEWS ON HARMONY CENTRAL AND SENSE THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE TEND TO "GIVE AWAY" RATING SCORES OF 10 WAY TOO MUCH. I DON'T.
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL HERE. IT'S SMALL/WAY PORTABLE, LIGHT WEIGHT,
RELIABLE, AND DOES WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. AND DID I MENTION VERY
AFFORDABLE? AT 35 POUNDS, DO YOU THINK I MISS LUGGING MY HALF STACK
AROUND? AGAIN- THANK YOU TECH 21!!!! FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'VE BEEN
PLAYING FOR A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS NOW AND HAVE OWNED/SEEN IT ALL
GEAR-WISE. I'M NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE MY LIVE SETUP FOR A LOOOONG TIME!
I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE.

2 or 3 year old (used) "Power Engine 60."
Sort of a powered speaker with some Vol & EQ controls.
XLR in & out, plus a 1/4" in.
Ground lift.
Like a TM-60 without the pre-amp/reverb, though it has sufficient gain to plug a guitar "straight in," and still get fairly loud.

It's not really made with many features. That's not the intent.
It's made to be somewhat neutral sounding for satillite or processor use.

I have used it with a Pod, J-Station, as a satilite amp for stereo, as an extension for Roland Cube-30.

Presently I'm using a Tech 21 "Classic" SansAmp with a Guild archtop Jazz guitar, using the "bass" switch, for straightahead Jazz duties: Or a "Parts-o-fender" guitar on the SansAmp "normal" setting for leads, but switched off for rhythm duties.

It gets a nice "round" guitar sound straight-in with a Fender type guitar, but really needs a processor or SansAmp when trying to get a sound with the jazzer, otherwise it sounds a bit lifeless.
With the fender style guitar (single coils, with a Rio Grande "Bastard" P-94 style bridge pickup w tone control), it sounds lively enough and twangy straight-in, but the SansAmp adds more "tweed" character for leads.

With the SansAmp Classic tweeked the right way, I can also get a nice tweed Bassman type of sound. Nice and rich. Lively.

The other processors worked great too. The Pod on "Blackplate" really DOES sound like a BF Fender, especially with some reverb (from the POD, the Power Engine has none).

Bought used.
No problems.
Tech 21 stuff I've had has always been reliable (I've had lots of Tech 21 stuff, never a problem).

Tech 21 equipment has a one year warranty, which I've never had to use.

This was used.

I started playing guitar in about 1960/'61, and have had EVERYTHING at some point or another.
Tech 21 voicings are very good, IMHO.
I especially like their "tweed" sounds and response, and alternate mostly between that and their Blackface Fender sounds for Jazz, Soul music, Blues, and general Pop and misc. sounds/styles.

I like that most Tech 21 equipment is light to carry, easy and quick to get good sounds on, and reliable.

It takes some getting used to Tech 21's approach and frequency range adjustment, but the sounds are generally crisp and the headroom plentiful.
If you're used to the SansAmp, I like it just a touch better than say, a GTR-2 or Tri-AC, because I can tweek-in that great tweed bassman sound. But there are some very transisterized sounds lurking in there too, if you are afraid of using its switch on "bass."

That's not the Power Engine's fault, it sounds great with a processor like a Pod, J-Station, or something.

I actually like Tech 21 products better than anything else out there, and have had multiple TM-60's and TM-10's, a TM-120, and various SansAmp "Classic," or regular, GTR-2, Tr-AC, etc., as well as every other manufacturer's stuff.

I like Tech 21 stuff best because it's light, reliable as concrete, and I'm sold on the sound.

this product does not need features, whats great about it is that it is simple: XLR and 1/4 in" inputs, active EQ (but leave them flat), and stupidly located "on/off" switch, very difficult to reach, can't see if the switch is on or off unless you look under the back panel - who designed that?

Here is where it all lays. I own a POD PRO and my goal was to be able to amplify true uncolored POD sounds both in the bedroom and on stage. If you want clean sound at LOW volumes (bedroom), then two of these units are perfect for you, run them in stereo. If you want to be able to play loud, even with a average "loud" drummer - you are in trouble - DONT BUY this amp. I am 34 years old and I've outgrown the concept of using a 100W tube head for live performance - thats WAY too much for rathole bars (use it for your arena gigs only, I don't seem to have too many of those booked myself, how about you?), quit trying to emulate what you see on MTV and see in guitar magazine adds. However, I can also assure you, this 60Watt amp is NOT enough to be useful for live performance (I actually don't believe its truely 60 Watt, it probably produces 60 Watt peaks at best). Even in my house, when I turn it past midway on the volume knob, the speaker starts to sound like crap (i.e. it farts out). Sounds great at lower volumes (below midway on the knob), but it seems that the amp and speaker are actually not "mathced-up" to allow you to crank it and have clean sound. Try it out a local store and see what I mean. Why the hell they designed it this way, I don't know. If you're reading this (Tech 21 - that means you) why dont you design a 100Watt solid state version of this unit, then it will sound good even at live stage volumes. I would be the first one in line to buy it, however, now I have to return it and buy a separate stereo power amp and PA speakers to get uncolored sound for live sound levels. The concept is great but ADD MORE POWER so that it can actually be useful for live use. I would rank it a 10 for bedroom use, ZERO for live use, so that averages to a five.

Works great at bedroom volume levels.

Answered my questions promptly, very easy to contact by phone, I told them about what I was experiencing, they said that they think this unit should be able to "peel the paint off of walls" and that maybe I have a speaker problem, well they were wrong. First of all it can't "peel the paint off of walls" unless I actually scratch the wall with the amp. I returned it to Musicians Friend and the tech department immediately tested it, they said nothing is wrong with the unit, but, they did say that when they crank the volume up, they also get some speaker farting. Basically, all the units will do this, read all the reviews here, some other people also mention having problems with the speakers "farting out" at loud volumes, you should also ignore the reviews from young kids who only use this in the bedroom, of course they are excited about it, but they have never played anywhere else.

Buy two of these units for your POD PRO or other processor if you want clean stereo reporduction of the POD at BEDROOM volumes. If you want to play at bars, etc, you will be very dissapointed, better off buying a stereo power amp and separate full range PA speakers. This unit is NOT usable at loud stage volumes. If you plan on playing at arenas, then buy a 100watt tube head, however, if you actually have arena gigs, then you probably get your stuff for free anyway, I wish I were you. Overall, great concept but WAY underpowered.

The features were perfect for what I was looking for and what Tech 21 sells it as. XLR and 1/4 inch in and XLR out. !! Low, mid and treb controls. Thats all you need when you have a great pre-amp.

This amp is very quiet. I play contemporary Christian distorted and clean with a Jacson guitar and Semour Duncan Jeff Beck Special in the bridge position. I also run a Godin nylon string /Synth guitar through this and the amp really delivers.

Built to last !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Don't Know if I'll ever need them.

I've played for over 25 years. This amp deliver clean, clear reproduction of my Rocktron Chameleon 2000 with out fail !!!!
I love, love , love it !! I couldn't find anything else like it. I use it as my stage monitor and run the XLR through the house P.A. My sound man loves it too !! The band can hear me on satge. I can hear myself and it sounds GREAT !!

This is a simple power amp: amp, speaker and box. 1X12, 60 watt solid state. Has volume, treble, mid and bass knobs in the back. That's it. Simple. It can be used as an additional speaker with a pre-existing preamp or combo with an additional preamp output or daisy chain a series of power engines. You may also use it for a stereo set-up.

I use it with an array of Fenders and a Gibson Les Paul. I use a TEch21 Tri-AC as preamp, Vox wah, and sometimes I include flanger, reverb, delay, etc. It has enough power and amplifies whatever you put in it without any interference. It just amplifies the signal, although you have to use the tone knobs carefully ( I leave them all at 12 o'clock).

I currently use it without backup. It is much lighter than my tube combo so that is a mega-plus. Since it is solid state it is not as fragile.

Never dealt with them.

I have played for a few years now. I like it because it does what it is supposed to do: amplify the signal. Sometimes the plates vibrate a little at low volumes but it not noticed at high volumes. I was looking for something else apart from combos and this was an answer. I am definitely purchasing a few more for stereo setups and daisy chaining.

I purchased the Power Engine 60 to add a little more coverage to my Trademark 60. It is primarily a power amp with a simple EQ. It has added another dimension of sound dispersion that is unattainable with a one 12 combo amp. It has all the features it should have, including an XLR out and in and more.

Basically, whatever signal you feed this thing is very accuarately reproduced. I use it to expand the sound of my Trademark 60. I can actually turn the overall stage volume down a little bit and get much better (wider) sound dispersion. It can distort a tiny bit at the highest volumes, however, I have never had to dial the EQ volume over 75%. Hooked up to the Trademark 60, it faithfully repoduces the sounds that come out of that amp. I have hooked up a Line 6 POD ver 2.0 to the power engine, and it sounds great. I have run the POD in stereo, into the Power Engine and The Trademark 60 (plugged into the return jack in the effects loop)...very cool stereo sound and effects come alive. Also, have used the Power Engine with several stomp boxes with excellent success. Essentially though, I purchased this to enhance the awesome tones that come out of the Trademark 60. I continue to be amazed at how good this amp sounds, even after several years of listening to it...

I have never had a problem with it, and don't expect to have one, based on my success with the Trademark 60. It is solid state after all.

They answered a question that I had with my Trademark 60's effects loop within a few days...I am happy.

Playing over twenty five years and owned many amps and guitars. If stolen, I would replace my Tech 21 gear. I can duplicate the sounds needed to play almost any style of music...rock, jazz, and some heavier stuff. It is truly incredible the sounds that come out of such a small and lightweight package (around 30 lbs.)

This is a solid state 60 watt power amp intended for use with direct recording pre-amps, such as SansAmp, POD, J-Station, V-amp, etc...
Not sure what year, but the line came out in 1999 and it was a used model, so it can't be any more than three years old. This unit is basically the Tech 21 Trademark 60 without the SansAmp pre-amp. It has active eq (boost/cut) and XLR ins and outs, as well as 1/4" inputs. Using the xlr out, you can daisy chain more of these little monsters and make a wall of amps if you want. I bought this to amplify a Johnson J-Station, and that it does well! I give this an 8 because it doesn't have a lot of features, but what it does it does extremely well!

I have several guitars, including an '89 Ibanez RG550, a '84 MIJ Squier Stratocaster, an '00 Danelectro Doubleneck, all running through a Johnson J-Station. The Power Engine is not intended to add anything new to the mix...except volume and accurate amplification of the preamp that's running through it. If the sound coming out of your headphones is good, then this item will simply make it loud.

Solid state circuitry should be as reliable as the day is long.

The year warantee was used up by the previous owner. I have no idea if Tech 21 would even give my emails a second glace. I hope I never have to find out.

This product is excellent at doing exactly what it is supposed to do. Period. I've been playing for 20 years and I love the J-Station. If I get tired of the J-Station, I can always move to other products such as the V-AMP, PODxt, etc...and this Power Engine 60 will move with me. Very cool. I'm very pleased with my guitar sounds now.

ok, first i want all of u to know i'm a TECH 21 expert !.
i have had many Tech 21 amps. I know them well. wooops
this is the feature section. ok, its a power amp with a EQ.

ok, this is what i think. Tech 21's are a very good product. i have always been happy with them. But, i sell after a while to try other products. Well, here i am again with a tech 21, power amp. One thing i've noticed over the years is that regular combo amps don't work well with effect processors. i guess the pre amps in the amp alter something. anyway, when tech 21 released the power amp, they got my attention. i thot, hmmmm they must agree with me that pre amps on amps alter the effects. so, i bot one. I must say, it sounds very good. The EQ is very very responsive to adjustment. I currently have some boss pedals plugged in, but i also have a RP-1 i hook up. Two things i've noticed with tech 21 amps. They don't sound to impressive at low volume, like a big fender would, which makes sense. But, when you turn them up, they sound very very good. Also, the amps with reverb, they have the best reverb around. Also, something i've noticed thats very important compared to other amps with built in effects. Its very difficult to get the PURE TONE from the guitar from a effects amp. But, with the tech 21, i can get that strat sound every time, no altered sound. I think i'll get another power amp, and run the two lines out of the RP-1 into the amps for stereo, sounds cool huh ?

never had a problem

O !!!! wait....

Tech 21 if yor listening, the metal plate on the amp VIBRATES at certain frequencies. I can hear it rattle............
need to dampen this plate

never used

I like the tech 21 power engine because :
1. keeps original tones, like the strat tone
2. i like the EQ on the amp, but wish it was on top
3. need to fix the plate rattle
4. i like because i can try many effect units with the amp and not have to worry about a preamp altering the tone.
5. i like the quality of the product

This is a very basic power amp. There are 3 active EQ's. XLR and 1/4 inch inputs. Very basic setup.

I run this with a POD Pro. I was running the Pod through a Johnson JM60 and it sounded horrible, even when bypassing all of the JM's tone control. When I hooked the POD up to the power engine it was smoking. The power engine let me use the pod like it was supposed to be used. It sounds awesome!!!! I will be buying another one soon. Unless they end up making a 2x12.

Have not had it very long buit from what I hear they are good.

I hope I don't have to use them.

I absolutely love this thing. I was debating on an entire rackmount system but I travel for work and I did not want to drag a carful of equipment around. If this was stolen I would be out tomorrow to replace it. For what I want this was the exact thing I was looking for. Very basic and not too big and heavy. And best of all it sounds great with my POD PRO.

The baffle board scares me. I replaced the speaker with a Weber California, and was able to push the nuts attaching the speaker out with a small nudge from a screwdriver. I reversed the nuts to mount the CA to the back of the baffle board. The speaker gasket is meant to be used!!! 60 watts is good enough for any gig: mic it up in large areas. Wish there was a gain knob as the input impedance is pretty low and easy to distort if using a high level preamp. I think a 2x10 power engine would be nice.

Hamer 25th with Duncan Humbuckers. Rock, Jazz, Reggae, Punk. To say that PE 60 is transparent is somewhat misleading: any amp with an EQ will color your sound. It does not, however, add any harmonics: that is up to your preamp & effect choice. It is fairly quiet, but this also depends on the preamp you use. I currently use Sans Amp TRIAC, Visual Sound H2O, Boss DD5, Fulltone Fat-Boost, EH Holy Grail reverb in that order. The stock speaker is indeed Hi-Fi. The Weber went a long way to adding character. The cabinet seems a little to open. Bass tones are a bit flabby. The EQ does not help tighten bass response. I will soon replace the back of the cab to close it off for tighter bass. I am not a big fan of cabinet simulators. I like the small combo for its focus.

When I first got the amp, I noticed that a nut had fallen off of the chassis. It held the heat sink in place, and could have really damaged the works. I am not 100% satisfied with the workmanship/materials, but believe if I am careful, it should last. No problems as of yet.

Not yet.

The PE-60 is great for what it does. Replicate the sounds you put into it without additional coloration. It is extremly versatile in this way because of the unlimited effects you can place before it, without having to worry about additional problems with gain, modeling, or redundancy of effects your amp could cause.

currently this is my practice (home) setup. Guitars I have played through it consists of a Fender Squire Stagemaster equipted with a Semour Duncan Custom SH-5 bridge pick up, and a Washburn Idol-64DL+ with the standard washburn 800 series pickups. My loop consists of the Tech 21 SansAmp TRI-A.C. for the modeling of the sounds, directed into the PE-60, give or take the CryBaby Wah-Wah pedal infront of the TRI-A.C. I am able to achieve great warm clean tones through the amp, as well as sustaining bright chorus tones, and even marshal or mesa sounds seem to come alive on this 1 12 inch speaker. The downfall of all of this is of course having to be posistioned in front of the speaker to get the full sounds of a marshall or mesa sound. (this might be less of a problem in a larger room of course) To solve this problem I bought a $30 amp stand and noticed the difference in the sounds I started hearing right away. When compared to the previous practice amp I was using, a Fender Princeton 65, I would rate this amp a 10 with the right models running through it, but I'll give it an 8 for making me have to go out and buy a stand. ;)

The only part of the physical build I would change is the plywood face plate, I have to admit that is a bit scary. But I haven't heard any horror stories yet, neither have I had a problem with it, so I won't judge this amp for problems I have yet to face. For small gigs, 2 of these running in stereo via the XLR input/output would probably be sufficient. I have not had the amp long enough to have any serious circuit issues with it so I cannot say as to how well the amp is actually wired, but I have always been a fan of Tech-21 products and see no reason this amp should not hold up over the years.

I've been playing for about five years. I own a Fender Squire Stagemaster, Washburn Idol series 64DL+, Tech-21 SansAmp TRI-A.C., Zoom 505 multi-effects processor, Jim Dunlop CryBaby, and of course, the Tech 21 TRI-A.C. I am waiting for the Tech-21 SansAmp 200 watt guitar head to arrive in stores, so if this were lost or stolen, I would not replace it, I would continue to save towards that head. I love that this is a warm feeling solid state amp with no additional coloration of sound. I don't like the plywood face plate. I compared this amp with the TRI-A.C. to the Marshall avt50 combo. I like the idea of being able to have more than 2 channles on a practice setup, and additional the PE setup I own has more low-end and warmer clean tones that the avt50! I do wish it were sold in a 2x12 sereies, but maybe one day huh?

Made in USA, 2001. The Power Engine 60 is designed to be used with pedals, rack effects, or amp emulators such as a Sansamp or the Line6 POD series. It features only one channel, with level and active EQ(low, mid, & high). Inputs are 1/4" or XLR in. It does have an XLR out for use with PAs. Using this to power my POD 2.0, it had more than enough for the small gigs I play. Speaker is full range.

Using a Fender American Strat Hardtail(Stock) and the Pod 2.0, I got near to the sound that I programmed thru my headphones. All it took was a little teaking of the active eq to compensate for the room. Clean, with plenty of headroom!

First gig, so it is hard to say. The amp seems fairly "bullet-proof," as is most of the Tech 21 product line!

This is the first Tech 21 product I've owned, so I have no opinion yet. From other opinions, it seems as if they stand behind their product.

I've been playing for 20 years. I have owned various Fenders, Carvins, even Peaveys. Time will tell if this works and is a "keeper." Tech 21 should make this in a 2-12" configuration, as well as power it at 120 watts(stereo!). If you're looking at Line6 amps, which sound weak at high power usage, then consider a Pod or a Johnson modeller through this amp, I think you will be suprised!